Journalist reveals Liverpool’s plans for Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike | OneFootball

Slot’s Selection Headache: Isak Absence and Ekitike Rise Leave Liverpool Searching for Balance

Isak absence shaping Slot plans

Arne Slot has inherited many virtues at Liverpool, but simplicity is not one of them. In a season defined by fine margins and relentless fixtures, the Dutchman’s forward line has been caught between promise and practicality. As noted in the original source discussion, “Liverpool have added Isak and barely seen him,” a line that lands like a sigh from a manager staring at a tactics board full of possibilities that remain stubbornly theoretical.

Because Alexander Isak, when fit, is not merely a striker; he is a system. His ability to glide between centre-halves, drift into pockets and finish with composure offers structure to chaos. Yet, as another comment from the original source observed, “you’ve had no Isak pretty much for the entirety of the season,” and that absence has reshaped Slot’s thinking week after week.

Slot is meticulous. He wants automatisms, repetition, clarity. Without Isak, Liverpool’s attacking patterns have sometimes resembled a rehearsal missing its lead actor. They still move, they still sing, but something is off. And as one observer noted in the same conversation, “Alexander Isak… is a, you know, he’s what, twenty six. So, you know, he’s definitely in that bracket as well,” highlighting the club’s intention to recruit players in their peak years.

Slot did not plan for improvisation. He planned for cohesion. Isak was meant to be part of that spine.

Ekitike workload warning signs

Into this void has stepped Hugo Ekitike, and it is to his credit that Liverpool have not sunk without trace. Indeed, the original source did not mince words: “I think Eketike has done really well, but obviously it is his debut season. Still, he’s probably been Liverpool’s best forward this season.”

There is a freshness to Ekitike’s game that excites supporters and alarms coaches. He presses willingly, dribbles with purpose and takes responsibility in tight areas. Yet football history is littered with young forwards burned out by expectation. One line from the original source lingers uneasily: “I hope Ekotike doesn’t just gas out a bit because they’re asking a lot of him this season.”

Slot’s Liverpool need depth. They need relief. They need to take Ekitike off on 60 minutes and trust another forward to finish the job. As the conversation put it, “You’re thinking… God, it’d be nice to make a change here. It’d be nice if he didn’t have to start every game.”

The reality is stark. Without Isak, Ekitike carries both the goals and the workload. That is unsustainable.

Rotation dilemmas under Slot

Rotation, in theory, is modern football’s answer to fixture congestion. In practice, it is a gamble. Slot knows that. He also knows he must find minutes for others without breaking rhythm.

The original source hinted at flexibility: “I think a rotational option, but you can see the importance of that… Ekotike may play the odd game off the left, by the way.” That willingness to shift roles speaks to Slot’s pragmatism. He is not wedded to dogma; he is wedded to results.

There is even talk of pairing Isak and Ekitike when circumstances allow. “Why not move Salah inside and give Eketike someone to play with…?” came one suggestion from the discussion, reflecting a broader desire to abandon predictability.

Slot’s challenge is delicate. He must keep Ekitike sharp without exhausting him, reintegrate Isak without disrupting chemistry, and maintain a title push that waits for no one.

Squad planning pointing to summer moves

Liverpool’s recruitment has often blended patience with opportunism. As the original source noted with reference to another signing, “Jeremy Frimpong’s an example of that from last summer.” The message is clear: Slot and the hierarchy plan in layers, not moments.

Isak fits the age profile. Ekitike fits the developmental curve. But depth remains thin, and a single injury can tilt a season. Slot will want another forward who can rotate seamlessly, perhaps someone who thrives off the left or centrally.

Because modern football punishes sentimentality. It rewards preparation. Slot’s Liverpool are still evolving, still learning how to balance ambition with endurance.

If Isak returns fully fit and Ekitike continues his ascent, Liverpool will possess one of Europe’s most intriguing attacking duos. Until then, Slot walks a tightrope, hoping the net below does not fray before May.